Float valve



Nov. 28, 1939,

J. H.v H. VOSS FLOAT VALVE Filed nay 2o. 1957 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, l1.939

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE` z,1s1.z19

' 'non VALVE "Johann Heinrich Hermann von.

whitermnaN. I.

Application my 2o, um, se'rm No. 143,649 20mm. (ci. ca -127) My invention relates to improvements in float valves, particularly intended for use with refrigerating uids, and it isthe principal object of my invention toprovide a float -valve which is I inexpensive in its construction, and in which the orice is located in close proximity to the pivot supporting the counterweighted float so that direct and eiective leverage action may be exerted on the steel ball closure of the orifice without the interposition of additional pivots, valve stems and valve stem guides.

A furtherobject of my invention is the provision of a float valve equippedwith a large lter screen in the immediate neighborhood of the orifice to prevent the blocking of the operation by small particles of pipe scale, packing or other impurities and which, after installation can read- -ily be inspected and adjusted A by the average mechanic without interrupting the pipe connections in the liquid supply line.

A still further object oi' my invention is the provision of a oat valve of this character equipped with aj'precooler for cooling and concentrating the mixture of warm liquid and gaseous refrigerant coming from the condenser -or liquid receiver and so reducing the formation of' ilash gas to a minimum in order -.to obtain an increase in the passage of active liquid refrigerant, and hence obtain increased capacity ofthe oat under varying pressure conditions, as will be understood by those experienced in the art.

These and other objects and advantages of my" invention will become more fully known as the' description thereof proceeds and will then be' 86 specically dened in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming almaterial part of this disclosure:

, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of la float housing equipped with a valve constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

As illustrated, a housing or shell I0 constitutng a chamber II for the float I2, a. hollow thin walled body which is attached at its inner end to a boss or the like on shield I3, is closed by a suitable flange to be described hereafter.

The fulcrum Il or pivot for the float is located in the shield, and the supporting arms for the fulcrum on which the oat balances are connected with the flange closing the float housing. The adjustable set screw I6 which is h eld in a projection of the shield imposes pressure on a steel ball closure II with its reduced stem I1. 'Ihe shield Il also holds one or two rods Il on 156- which a weight I! is secured by means of screws 20, to counterweight the oat and to balance it on its fulcrum I4 supported bythe arms 2l connected to the ange 22, mentioned above, closing the iioat housing. A

4'Ihe liquid ammonia enters the chamber 23 of 5 the'flange 22 at 24 and passes through a ine' mesh screen 25 and the holes 26 and enters then the yliquid precooler 21 held in a hub 28. A cap 29- is fastened on the end 4of the precooler and has an orifice closed bythe steel ball I6, the 10 opening 3I in the capv 29 aiords passage to the liquid ammonia into the chamber II.

The iloatis limited in its swing about the fulcrum Il as the shield 'I3 touches theend surfaces of 'the arms 2I when the float is inits lowest l5 position indicated in broken lines in Figure 1.

Thev ange 22 fits snugly into the open end of the oat housing I0 and two gaskets 32 and 33 prevent leakage to the atmosphere on one side and leakage of the high pressure liquid in the 20v float housing on the other side. l

`The outer face of the precooler may be grooved or ribbed, as at 34, to increase the heat transferred from the cold low pressure liquid inthe i'loat housing to the warm high pressure liquid 25 coming fromA the condenseror receiver.

At its bottom, the housing I0 is provided with a threaded socket 35 for connection with a pipe coil in which the liquid refrigerant is boiled off to cool its surroundings, while a top outlet socket 30 36 serves as a vent for the dash gas and is connected from this point to the suction line of the compressor.

The flange 22 closing the housing III, is in turn closed at its frontA by means of a threaded plug 31 and packing 38. A threaded bolt 33 passes through the plug 31 and presseson the plate 4I which fits into ashoulder of the threaded end 40, which is preferably made in a single piece with the precooler 21., 'I'he cap nut ,l2 and pack,- ing 43 close chamber 23 against the outside atmosphere.

In operation, the liquid refrigerant enters the float housing through the Jlhollow space in the 45 flange and passes then through the fine mesh screen and enters the liquid precooler. The gas carried by this high pressure liquid refrigerant collapses when cooled by the' cold low pressure,

liquid refrigerantthrough the walls of the pre- 50-` cooler. Thiscoolin'g increases the amount of active liquid passed through the orice and reduces the amount of ash gas entering the float chamber so that the level of the low pressure liquid refrigerant 4inthe float chamber remains 56 comparatively quiet thus preventing lumpyy or erratic movement of the oat.

During its operation the :Boat rises from its lowest position shown in broken lines in Figure 1 when the liquid refrigerant ilowing through the orifice reaches a level high enough to balance the iloat and nally through its force of buoyancy closes it by pressing with the end of the set screw on the steel ball over the orifice.

It willbe understood that I have described and shown one form of my invention as an example only of the many possible ways to practically construct the same, and that I may make such changes therein and in the construction oi' its minor details as come within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of my invention and the principle involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a oat valve, preferably for refrigerating media, the combination of a iloat and a counterweight closely to one another, and iulcrumed near their common center of gravity, a stem secured to and swinging with these parts, and arranged -in such a manner that the direction of the motion of one of its ends is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the valve seat when the float is in position to stop the liquid supply, and a ball acting as a valve which is pressed l against its seat by the action of said stem end,

and means for adjusting the stem to the other swinging parts. y

2. A oat valve for reirlgerating media, comprising a shell closed at one end by a ehambered ange. a oat in said shell open at one end, a

shield closing said open end and 'having a boss on which said float is iulcmmed, rods on said shield carrying a counterweight for said float, a liquid precooler having a grooved outer face and held in a hub within said ange and having a` cap at one end provided with an opening for admitting liquid ammonia into said shell, a ball valve seated above 'said op ning, and an adjustable screw held in a projection of said shield to regulate said valve to control the ilow of iuid from the precooler and to direct the `iet of liquid discharged from the valve against the float in such manner as to exert a force tending to close said valve, said flange' having a chamber and arms to support the fulcrum of said float, the

chamber in said ange being connected to the said precooler and to the liquid ammonia supply;

JOHANN H. H. V058. 

